Ho Chi Minh City’s popular lifestyle cafe-bistro Paper & I (152 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1) has launched a new multifunctional space that aims to be a flexible merger between a daytime cafe and a venue for all types of social and business events.
From craft workshops to product launches and more, Paper & I expects the new space to be well-received by members of the public thanks to ease of access.
Situated just steps from the city’s renowned Independence Palace, the cafe shares its 1940s-built French Colonial-era villa building with Nam Thi House. The structure was meticulously renovated in 2020 for the occupancy of the cafe without sacrificing pre-existing architectural features, and the new space represents another conscientious step forward for the utilization of a heritage location that many consider a relic in Saigon’s historical city center.
Incorporating the new space into the original Paper & I
Creating a brand new multi-use space was no easy task, and Saucefish was all ears when Design Director Lê Đình Lương was ready to spill the beans about the challenges he faced.
With a legacy cafe section at the front of the building and a garden area sandwiching what now has become Paper & I’s new multi-functional space, Lê was committed to ensuring a seamless transition between both zones, keeping in mind the need for the area to serve a dual purpose as both a guest seating area and a functional space as and when needed.
“To achieve this, we first removed an original brick wall that separated both spaces and replaced it with sliding glass doors. Also, the choice of glass doors for the rear exit of the new space ensures that visitors can gaze through and see several layers of spaces, including the garden area that is situated outside,” Lê elaborated.
Likewise, any guest sitting within the space’s comfortable 84m2 of room will be comforted by natural light from several points of entry, while gazing back towards the frontage of the cafe means looking at the heritage walls, perimeter trees, and lawn of the Independence Palace itself.
Comfort a priority for guest who choose to visit Paper & I’s new space
Despite the usual importance of maximizing seat density for a city-center cafe location, Paper & I’s new cafe space understands its dual-use application and has opted for an interior design and seating arrangement that creates several pockets of seating comfort for groups of varying sizes.
With the help of ergonomic design from sought-after Italian furniture makers including Cassina, Gamma, B&B Italia, Capellini, and Morroso, an almost “tutti frutti” color palette, both on the inside and outside of Paper & I’s new space, has shaped its soul into something best described as comfort with a good amount of prestigious European eye candy.
“The use of vibrant colors in the new space aims to bring a new look to Paper & I,” Lê added, explaining how color blocking is the main tool of expression in the project.
With contrasting tones of bold and bright hues against an underbelly of white sandwiched within a humble brick-forward architectural “motif”, the space is not just colorful, and certainly not distractingly so, and instead leans towards youthful energy.
Seasonal Beverages and Brunch-style Menu Items are a perfect accompaniment to the launch of Paper & I’s new cafe space
Perhaps not coincidentally, Paper & I’s seasonal Nature Infusion Journey beverage collection takes on a similar set of comfortable hues that compliment any visit to Paper & I’s new cafe space.
Indulge in Yolk Amber, a salted egg yolk foam milk tea with walnuts and sesame, or if you crave a more textural experience, try Geology Layers, another photogenic milk tea beverage with an intense black sesame aroma.
Paper & I’s dedication to its diverse food menu also means that one may visit for the vibes yet is bound to be enamored by Paper & I’s myriad of tasty treats, and Saucefish is inclined to mention these perpetual favorites.
Al dente linguine pasta, sous-vide octopus, sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich curry sauce meet in Linguine Al Polpo, a flavorful symphony of textures and bold, tangy flavors.
Yet arguably, the star of the show is Paper & I’s crowd-pleasing Glazed Duck Ramen, where tender sous-vide duck breast marinated with five-spice and orange is generously served together with sumptuous greens on a rich chicken bone broth dressed with a touch of mirin to meld everything together flawlessly.
Paper & I is Saigon’s Youthful City Centre Soul
Ultimately, Paper & I resembles the youthful energy of a dynamic and growing city, and the new cafe space extension will speak to a wide range of audiences.
With a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space, Paper & I’s new space is slated to host many memorable events in the upcoming months.
“This new space is not only suitable for ‘elegant’ social meetings, but also an aesthetic that will speak to guests engaged in fields of art and creativity,” Lê insists.
